Of all the Brazilian models to emerge during the late nineties, Caroline Ribeiro is my absolute favourite. Born in Belom do Para, Brazil, Ribeiro's exotic, unconventional looks were a result of her Portuguese and Amazonian Indian heritage. Ribeiro's multi-cultural looks, which were an considered a hurdle during the initial stages of her career, drew the attention and admiration of the then Gucci designer Tom Ford who cast her in his Spring/Summer 1999 show. Ribeiro became a muse to Ford, who declared that "Her face is an unusual blend of cultures"and featured her prominently in multiple Gucci campaigns.
Ford's adulation opened doors for Ribeiro to work with other fashion houses and she has since starred in campaigns for Escada, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Oscar de la Renta, Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent and cK1. Championed by the likes of Mario Testino, Steven Meisel and Patrick Demarchelier, Ribeiro was a permanent fixture in American Vogue, Harpers Bazaar and Vogue Italia. In September 2001, Ribeiro entered the holy grail of modelling when she was signed a reported $6 million dollar contract as a spokesperson for Revlon cosmetics. Ribeiro's exposure was also maximised in the same year when she was selected to walk in the Victoria's Secret runway spectacle.
Ford's adulation opened doors for Ribeiro to work with other fashion houses and she has since starred in campaigns for Escada, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Oscar de la Renta, Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent and cK1. Championed by the likes of Mario Testino, Steven Meisel and Patrick Demarchelier, Ribeiro was a permanent fixture in American Vogue, Harpers Bazaar and Vogue Italia. In September 2001, Ribeiro entered the holy grail of modelling when she was signed a reported $6 million dollar contract as a spokesperson for Revlon cosmetics. Ribeiro's exposure was also maximised in the same year when she was selected to walk in the Victoria's Secret runway spectacle.
During the late nineties, Ribeiro's distinct hybrid looks set her apart and drew comparisons to the iconic beauty Bianca Jagger. The 178 cm tall chameleon downplays her looks, stating that "I think my face is different, it's exotic - not like normal beauty. I don't have what you would call perfect beauty....with a face like mine I can play around."
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| Vogue Italia - December 1999 Photographer - Steven Meisel Source - the fashionspot.com |
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| US Harpers Bazaar - November 2000 Photographer - Mikael Jansson Source - thefashionspot.com |
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| US Vogue - January 2000 Photographer - Steven Meisel Source - bellazon.com |
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| Caroline Ribeiro & Raquel Zimmerman Paris Vogue - April 2000 Photographer - Unknown Source - nymag.com |
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| US Vogue - December 2002 Photographer - Steven Meisel Source - thefashionspot.com |
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| US Vogue - January 2003 Photographer - Craig McDean Source - bellazon.com |
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| US Harpers Bazaar - June 2000 Photographer - Richard Burbridge Source - nymag.com |
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| Vogue Italia - July 2001 Photographer - Steven Meisel Source - thefashionspot.com |
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| Vogue Italia - January 2002 Photographer - Steven Meisel Source - bellazon.com |
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| Caroline Ribeiro and Joao Felipe Vogue Brasil - May 2007 Photographer - Miro Source - thefashionspot.com |
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| US Vogue - March 2001 Photographer - Mario Testino Source - nymag.com |
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| US Vogue - March 2001 Photographer - Mario Testino Source - nymag.com |
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| US Vogue - January 2003 Photographer - Raymond Meier Source - thefashionspot.com |
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| US Vogue - March 2001 Photographer - Mario Testino Source - nymag.com |
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| US Harpers Bazaar - March 2000 Photographer - Richard Burbridge Source - thefashionspot.com |
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| Caroline Ribeiro & Jacquetta Wheeler US Vogue - January 2003 Source - thefashionspot.com |
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| US Harpers Bazaar - June 2000 Photographer - Patrick Demarchelier Source - bellazon.com |
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| Paris Vogue - May 2000 Photographer - Ruven Afanador Source - thefashionspot.com |
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| Vogue Italia - December 1999 Photographer - Steven Meisel Source - thefashionspot.com |
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| Gucci - S/S 2000 Photographer - Mario Testino Source - thefashionspot.com |
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| Louis Vuitton - S/S 2001 Photographer - Patrick Demarchelier Source - nymag.com |
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| Caroline Ribeiro, Jacquetta Wheeler, Carmen Kass & Karolina Kurkova Yves Saint Laurent - F/W 2002 Photographer - Steven Meisel Source - thefashionspot.com |
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| Johnny Zander, Caroline Ribeiro, Will Lewis & Liu Wen ck one - 2009 Photographer - Steven Meisel Source - nymag.com |
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| Vogue Brasil - February 2001 Photographer - Mario Testino Source - thefashionspot.com |
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| Caroline Ribeiro & unidentified male models Vogue Italia - September 2002 Photographer - Steven Meisel Source - bellazon.com |
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| Flair Italia - February 2003 Photographer - Patrick Demarchelier Source - thefashionspot.com |
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| Gucci - S/S 2001 Photographer - Alexei Hay Source - thefashionspot.com |
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| Gucci - S/S 2001 Photographer - Alexei Hay Source - thefashionspot.com |